India and China share a very complicated relationship. From aggressively competing for global influence, to working closely on BRICS, SCO and RIC summits, both the nations are somewhat under pressure from Trump’s trade policies, especially Beijing.
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Chinese state-run media accuses India of abandoning its traditional non-alignment policy and drifting toward the US. This has dampened the spirit of Panchsheel (the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence). Such an impression is neither good for India nor for the rest of the world, asserts the article.
India should assist in trying to solve global conflicts rather than becoming a party to them. The 2+2 meeting between the Indian defence and foreign ministers and their US counterparts did very little to dissipate the perception that the Indian drift toward the US is continuing. India should realize that it holds a very significant position in the world, it should not become subservient to the US.
India has surpassed France and about to zoom ahead of the UK to become the fifth largest economy in the world and has become the fourth strongest military power after the US, Russia and China, acknowledges the article.
Even though there are some areas of disagreement between India and China, areas of agreement are far more prominent. The US is cornering both nations with “America First” policy which is bound to impact economies of both the nations. The sooner the two countries come together, the sooner the reality of Asia’s century will become apparent.
The article states that the purchasing power parity (PPP) is closer to ground reality. If we take PPP into consideration, then the standing of the countries will be different, with China in the first place, followed by the US and India.
Even if we continue to use GDP as the only criterion for economic standings, things are going to change soon. By 2030, the standings are going to be most likely: China first, followed by the US and India. By 2050, it can be China first, followed by India and the US in the third place. Sooner or later, the world is going to realize that Asia’s century has already dawned.
India has to do more to dispel the perception that it is aligning with the US to contain China. India has some differences with China, particularly on the border dispute, however, Delhi should understand that the border conflict is a legacy of colonialism rather than a Chinese creation.
Together, India and China can send a message to the world that unlike the Western-dominated world, Asia’s century will not mean domination and hegemony of Asia, but the end of domination and hegemony of any one country. Relations between countries, regions, races, colours and religions will be based on equality, tolerance and mutual respect. These principles were given to the world by Panchsheel, which were developed jointly by India and China which needs to be revived.
